Town centres in Fife are seeing the benefits of a £500,000 cash injection from the local authority.

In February, Fife Council agreed to use the funds to support one-off projects to help regenerate and build confidence within the local community.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee yesterday (20 August), progress on the initiative was welcomed.

To date, six projects are underway with more than £230,000 being allocated.

In Cupar, as part of the refurbishment of the prominent County Buildings, 20 new flats are being created that will be owned, managed and let by the council. This will bring new residents into the town centre and use a formerly redundant part of the Grade A listed building as part of the refurbishment. The iconic war memorial in Cupar is also being repaired and upgraded as part of the plans.

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In Glenrothes, the town is trialling three new retail business start-ups in the Kingdom Shopping Centre, while the Mercat Cross in Kincardine will benefit from funding as part of a bid to improve the town's conservation area and make it more attractive for locals and visitors.

Elsewhere, in Kirkcaldy, pedestrian signage will be put in place to complement signs from the newly re-opened library, gallery and museum to the town centre and leisure centre, while improvements are also planned for Adam Smith Close and property on the Esplanade and general repairs will be carried out to buildings in the High Street.

The council is currently offering business support grants to help local entrepreneurs upgrade their existing premises and support new ventures who want to set up in all town centres. Proposals on how the scheme will be taken forward will be finalised next month.

Council Leader Alex Rowley said: "Supporting, developing and improving our town centres is a key objective for the council. This money is being used to bring the bustle back to Fife towns and create environments where people want to shop, do their business and spend their time.

"We want to bring the feel good factor back to our streets and shopping precincts and help regain a local sense of pride in people's surroundings. That's no easy task and there's no quick fix but this investment is bringing about changes and a renewed vigour to partnerships and projects that are making a difference."

(JP/MH)